Nanotechnology General News

(Nanowerk News) DSM Biomedical, a global leader in biomedical materials, today announced the development of VitroStealth™, a breakthrough non-biofouling (NBF) coating technology. Specifically developed to combine state of the art non-biofouling properties with high durability and fast processing, VitroStealth™ coating is scratch resistant and reduces unwanted protein absorption and cellular adhesion on surfaces.

“While the main application focus at this time for VitroStealth™ coating is in life science consumables, pre-analytics, and point of care diagnostics, we are excited about the many other areas that the technology can significantly impact,” said Steve Hartig, President of DSM Biomedical. “We currently are investigating the scope of this technology for in-vivo medical applications and see a future for this coating technology in several other markets.”

To develop the medical coating technology, DSM Biomedical leveraged advances in scratch resistant coatings developed by its parent organization DSM for use in displays and other non-medical applications. By extending DSM’s leading hard coat technology to medical applications, DSM is aiming to offer the medical device and pharmaceutical industry the ability to decrease the likelihood of surface contamination and improve assay sensitivity, reproducibility and ultimately the reliability of medical consumables and point of care diagnostic tools. Application includes pre-analytical blood collection devices where VitroStealth™ coating eliminates surface mediated hemolysis and leads to clean, reproducible and thus reliable serum or plasma samples for the clinical laboratory. In diagnostics, VitroStealth™ coating increases signal to noise ratio as the analyte is not partially lost by adsorption to the surface of the device. Furthermore, due to its highly hydrophilic character the coating increases the capillary flow of analytes in micro-fluidic point of care devices.

“Medical experts do not leave much to chance. They need analytical and diagnostic tools that are reliable and leave no doubts regarding their efficacy,” said John Marugg, Business Director for Medical Coatings, DSM Biomedical. “It was critical that we expand upon DSM’s existing technology to provide the medical community with a coating technology whose durability and reliability are unparalleled.”

Although coatings and surface treatments that reduce the accumulation of biological species have been on the market for some time, they often suffer from high levels of extractables and leachables, as well as poor scratch resistance. In some cases, these extractables have interfered with subsequent in-vitro assays and this potential for interference has limited the application success of current non-biofouling solutions.

Comparatively, VitroStealth™ coatings are solvent based and cured by exposure to UV light. This crosslinking chemistry leads to remarkably low levels of extractables and leachables, thereby greatly enhancing device reliability. VitroStealth™ coatings can be processed at high speeds and applied using a variety of liquid coating techniques, including dip-coating, spin coating and spray coating, among others. The fast processing is suitable for high throughput manufacturing of large numbers of coated parts.

About DSM Biomedical

DSM Biomedical develops novel materials-based solutions to meet the present and future needs of the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries. Building on the expertise and strengths of DSM and its acquisition of The Polymer Technology Group, which is now known as DSM PTG, the company’s product portfolio includes coatings, drug delivery platforms and a wide range of biomedical materials for use in short- and long-term implantable medical devices. Key product brands include Bionate® PCU and CarboSil® TSPCU, two of the most extensively tested biomedical polymers ever developed. Both polymers have excellent biostability, high strength and abrasion resistance, making them candidate materials for load-bearing orthopedic implants. ComfortCoat™ hydrophilic and antimicrobial coating technology for catheters, guidewires and stent delivery systems; and Dyneema Purity®, a high-performance polyethylene fiber technology developed specifically for use in medical applications, such as orthopedic implants. The company also markets the Trancerta™ family of bioresorbable materials for drug delivery. This portfolio is based on DSM’s core strengths in materials science combined with its extensive in-house library of synthesis methods, formulation and processing techniques.

DSM – the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company

Royal DSM N.V. creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM’s products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has annual net sales of EUR 9.3 billion and employs some 23,500 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com